Printing or reproducing apparatus.



PATBNTED JULY 17, 1906.

' W. G. FUERTE.

REPRUDUGING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 27. 1905.

PRINTING 0R INVENTORI XA/Elba?! BY a@ f @www V U'Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE..

VVILLIANI Gr. FUERTH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EQUILIBRATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification cf Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application led December 27,1905. vSerial-No. 293.514.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM G. FUERTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing or Reproducing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention has reference generally to improvements in stencil-printing apparatus or duplicators; and the invention relates more particularly to a novel means for arranging and stretching in its taut relation an ink-mat or inked cloth upon the cylindrical surface of the main drum or cylinder of the apparatus and also a novel means for securing the edge of a stencil-sheet in its operative relation upon and over said inked cloth or mat.

This invention therefore has for its principal object to provide a novel ink mat or cloth stretching and .retaining or holding means, and, furthermore, to provide in connection therewith a novel stencil-sheet retaining or securing means, substantially as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth in the following detailed description of my present invention.

The invention consists, primarily, in a novel means for stretching and securing in ataut relation an ink mat or cloth upon the cylindrical face of the cylinder or drum of a printing apparatus or duplicator and the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel device for attaching one edge of a stencilsheet in its operative position upon the ink mat or cloth, all substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

The invention consists, furthermore, in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim, which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specication.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view of a printing apparatus or duplicator provided with the ink-mat and stencil-sheet securing devices or means embodying the principles of this invention, and Fig. 2 is an end view of the various parts represented in said Fig. l. Fig.' 3 is a transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the one end of the drum or cylinder provided with a transverse or laterally-extending groove or channel and a face view of one form of spring-held clamping or retaining rods to which the respective end portions of the ink mat or cloth are attached, said view showing also in cross-section a latch-plate for securing the end portion of the stencil-sheet over and upon said ink mat or cloth; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said parts shown in Fig. 3, Asaid section being taken on line 4 4 in said Fig. 8, and said view illustrating, also in side elevation, a retaining-hook adapted to engage the spring or resilient latch-plate when in its lowered and holding relation with the stencil-sheet. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the various parts similar to Fig. l of the drawings, but showing the latch-plate disconnected at its one end from the said retaining-hook; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified means for adjusting the ink mat or cloth holding or retaining rods.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference character l indicates any suitable base upon which are arranged and suitably secured a pair of suitablyshaped supports or standards 2, the said supports or standards being provided with uprights 3, each upright being formed with a bearing portion 4. Screws or pivots 5 are arranged in said bearing portions 4, the threaded portions of said screws being screwed into the screw-threaded hubs 6, connected with the lower end portions of a pair of arms 7, connected with the respective ends of the main drum or cylinder 8 of the apparatus. The said drum or cylinder is provid ed in its cylindrical surface with a laterally-extending groove or channel 9, in which is suitably fit- IOO ted a correspondingly-formed channel-shaped member 10 of substantially the cross-section shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and is provided with a base 11, having at ornear the respective ends thereof suitably-formed openings or holes 12. Each arm 7 of the said drum or cylinder 8 is also provided in the manner shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings with a laterally-extending ear or lug 13 cach ear or lug being provided with the openings 14 and 15, the opening 14 in each ear or lug 13 registering with an opening or hole 12 at the ends of the base 11 of the member 10. Movably arranged in the said openings or holes 12 and 14 at each end of the drum or cylinder 8 are a pair of links or rods 16 and 17 which are united at their lower portions or ends by means of a loop or eye 18, in which is arranged a rod or bar 19, substantially as shown. Encircling the lower portions of each pair of links or rods 16 and 17, so as to bear against the under surface of an ear or lug 13 and against the projecting portions of the rod or bar 19, are the compressed coils of a compression-spring 20, substantially as shown and for the purposes hereinafter more fully described. The upper end portions of said links or rods 16 and 17 are formed with retaining hooks or loops 21, preferably extending in opposite directions, as shown, and suitably secured over the respective end portions of a pair of laterally-extending retaining or holding rods 22 and 23. The said rods 22 and 23 have their end portions removably arranged inthe said loops or hooks 21, that the rods 22 and 23 may be removed therefrom and inserted in the looped end portions 25 and 26 of an ink mat or cloth 24. When this has been accomplished, the said mat or cloth is placed about the cylindrical surface of the drum or cylinder 8 with the looped portions 25 and 26 and the inserted rods 22 and 23 arranged directly Within the said channeled member 10. Then by exerting an upward pressure upon the projecting ends of the rods 19 the loops or hooks 21 of the links or rods 16 and 17 are easily fitted over or upon the end portions of the respective rods 22 and 23, as will be clearly understood. As soon as the pressure is removed from the short rods or bars 19 the springs 20, acting against the lower faces of the said lugs or ears 13 and the projecting portions of the said short bars or rods 19, produce a downward movement of the links or rods 16 and 17, whereby the retaining or holding rods 22 and 23 and the end portions of the ink mat or cloth 24 are drawn directly into the channeled member 10, as shown, and the said mat or cloth 24 is securely and perfectly pulled taut over the entire cylindrical surface of the said drum or cylinder 8. By again applying an upward pressure upon the projecting end portions of the short rods or bars 19 the various parts can be disconnected for the removal of the old and worn ink mat or cloth, and the replacing of the same with a new one is readily accomplished in the manner just described.

In lieu of the spring-controlled links or rods 16 and 17 and other parts for drawing the retaining or holding rods 22 and 23 into the channeled member 10 and holding them there for the purposes stated the device shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings may be employed. In this case a single screw-threaded rod 27 may be used at each end of the drum or cylinder 8, said rod 27 being movably arranged in the holes or openings 12 and 14 of the member 10 and ear or lug 13, respectively, and also extending into and through a second perforated ear or lug 28 upon each arm 7 of the drum or cylinder 8, a nut 29 being arranged upon the screw-threaded part of each rod 27 land turning between the ears or lugs 13 and 28, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Fig. 6. The upper end portion of each rod 27 is made with loops or hooks 30 for connection with the end portions of the respective holding or retaining rods 22 and 23 in the manner and for the purposes hereinabove described, and that a suitsuitable guide may be provided, each hub 6 may be made with a receiving-socket 31, inv

which the lower end portions of the rods 27 freely reciprocate.

To properly connect and secure the one end of a stencil-sheet 32 over the ink mat or cloth 24, I have provided what I term a latch-plate 33. This plate is made from a suitable spring metal, so as to be resilient, and its normal tendency is to spring outwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when depressed and held at its ends in its engaging relation with the stencil-sheet 32 it exerts sufficient holding pressure or force to prevent the displacement of the said sheet 32. That the said latch-plate 33 may be secured in such operative position and relation to the other parts, the channeled member 10 has at its one end portion two oppositely-extend ing lugs or pins 34, beneath which the preferably slightly curved or bent end portion 35 of the plate 33 is arranged, the opposite end portion of the said plate 33 being provided with a receiving opening or slot 36 for the reception and engagement with the said end portion of the latch-plate 33 of a holding portion or nosing 38 of a spring rod or member 37, which extends upwardly from the hub 6 or other suitable part and through the hole or opening 15 in the ear or lug 13, the said rod or post 37 being capable of a lateral movement in the direction of the arrow x in Fig. 4 of the drawings, so that the holding portion or nosing 38 can be forced from the end of the latch-plate when necessary.

From the foregoing description of my present invention it will be seen that l have devised a simply-constructed and efficiently- ICO ITO

operating means for readilyv and quickly stretching the ink mat or cloth in its taut relation upon the main drum or cylinder of the reproduction of the printed or written matter upon the paper.

I claim- 1. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally extending channel, and outwardly-extending and perforated lugs or ears, of an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channel with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, and a detachable holding means at the opposite ends of said rods for drawing the ends of the mat or cloth into said channel and pulling said mat or cloth taut, said holding means extending through the perforations in said outwardlyextending lugs or ears, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardly-extending and perforated lugs or ears, of an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channel with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, and a spring-controlled detachable holding means at the opposite ends of said rods for drawing the ends of the mat or cloth into said channel and pulling said matlor cloth taut, said holding means extending through the perforations in said outwardly-extending lugs or ears, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardly-extending and perforated lugs or ears, of an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channel with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, hook-shaped links connected with the respective end portions of said rods, said links extending'through andy beneath said lugs or ears, a coiled spring upon the lower portions of each pair of links, and means for retaining said springs in position,

substantially as and for the purposes set` forth.

4. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardly-extending and perforated lugs or ears, of an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channel with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, hook-shaped links connected with the respective end portions of said rods, said links extending through and beneath said lugs or ears, a coiled spring upon the lower portions of each pair of links, and means for retaining said springs in position, consisting of a connecting loop-shaped end between each pair of links, and a laterally-extending bar in each loop-shaped end, the projecting end portions of said bars serving as finger-pieces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardly-extending and perforated lugs or ears, of a channeled member in said channel of the cylinder, said member being provided with perforations near its ends which register with the perforations of said lugs or ears, an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channeled member with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, hook-shaped links connected with the respective end portions of said rods, said links extending through the registering perforations of said channeled member and said lugs or ears, and also beneath the said lugs or ears, a coiled spring upon the lower portions of each pair of links, and means for retaining said springs in position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination.v with a main drinn or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardly-extending and perforated lugs or ears, of a channeled member in said channel of the cylinder, said member being provided with perforations near its ends which register with the perforations of said lugs or ears, an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channeled member with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, hook-shaped links connected with the respective end portions of said rods, said links extending through the registering perforations of said channeled member and said lugs or ears, and also beneath the said lugs or ears, a coiled spring upon the lower portions of each pair of links, and means for retaining said springsin position, consisting of a connecting loop-shaped end between each pair of links, and a laterally-extending bar in eac-h loop-shaped end, the projecting end portions of said bars serving as iinger-pieces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a printingor reproducing apparatus, the combination. with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, of means connected with the ends of said mat l or cloth for drawing said ends into the said f IIO channel and pulling said mat or cloth taut, and a stencil-sheet-attaching means consisting of a Aresilient, latch-plate, and means for securing said latch-plate over said channel, comprising pins at one end of said channel with which one end portion of said latchplate is in detachable engagement, and a hook-shaped spring post or rod in detachable engagement with the other end portion of said latch-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with alaterally-extending channel, and an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder', of a pair of retaining-rods in said channel, means at the opposite ends of said rods for drawing the ends of the mat or cloth into said channel and pulling said mat or cloth taut, and a stencil-sheet-attaching means consisting of a resilient latch-plate, and means for securing said latch-plate over said channel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a printing or reproducing' apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, of a pair of retaining-rods in said channel, means at the opposite ends of said rods for drawing the ends of the mat or cloth into said channel and pulling said mat or cloth taut, and a stencil-shcet-attaching means consisting of a resilient latch-plate, and means for securing said latch-plate over said channel, comprising pins at one end of said channel with which one end portion of said latch-plate is in detachable engagement, and a hook-shaped spring post or rod in detachable engagement with the other end portion of said latch-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardly-extending and vperforated lugs or ears, of an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channel with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, hook-shaped links connected with the respective end portions of said rods, said links extending through and I beneath said lugs or ears, a coiled spring upon the lower portions of each pair of links, means for retaining said springs in position, and a stencil-sheet-attaching means, consisting of a resilient latch-plate, and means for securing said latch-plate over said channel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l1. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with. a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and outwardl -eXtending and perforated lugs or ears, of an ink mat or cloth on said cylinder, a pair of retaining-rods in said channel with which the respective ends of said cloth are connected, hook-shaped links connected with the respective end portions of said rods, said links extending through and beneath said lugs or ears, a coiled spring upon the lower portions of each pair of links, means for retaining said springs in position, and a stencil-sheet-attaching means, consisting of a resilient latch-plate, and means for securing said latch-plate over said channel, comprising pins at one end of said channel with which one end portion of said latchr plate is in detachable engagement, and a hook-shaped spring post or rod in detachable engagement with 'the other end portion of said latch-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1

12. In a printing or reproducing apparatus, the combination, with a main drum or cylinder provided with a laterally-extending channel, and a channeled member therein, of a stencil-sheet-attaching latch-plate, and means for securing said latch-plate in its holding relation in said channeled member, consisting of pins at one end of said member with which one end portion of said latch-plate is in detachable engagement, and a hook-shaped spring post or rod in detachable engagement with the other end portion of said latch-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of December, 1905.

WILLIAM G. FUERTH. Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, i Giro. D. RICHARDS. 

